How Far Will They Go?

Bendrr

As more and more ex-Witnesses speak out online, as we have here, it's obvious that the Society has to see it as a threat.
Since they probably won't come out and ban internet access for their members, how are they going to deal with us? Many of us make no secret of our names and locations, and for the rest it would not be hard for someone with the org's resources to find that information. As things like the child abuse issue, the U.N. membership, and the blood issue become more publicized their damage-control efforts will have to increase. Could the damage control include silencing the opposition? And how far could that go?
Just a thought.

whatever...

Satanus

Slander/libel/copyright infringement charges against boards like this and their isp's. Even that approach is risky for them, because they are trying to hide stuff, and we are trying to get everything out into the open. What else can they do? Negative publicity from goon squads would rebound on them really badly.

SS

JeffT

I think they'd have a tough time on the legal front. Copyright laws allow "fair use" for academic purposes. I can legally quote a paragraph from a Watchtower in order to refute it. Plus the fact that they distribute their stuff all over creation at cut rate prices would make it difficult to prove monetary damages.

Slander/libel issues get even worse. The truth is an absolute defense to such charges. They can't say we're defamaing them with quotes about 1975 (for example)if they said those things.

I think they'd stir up a real hornet's nest, at least in the USA, if they tried this.

DakotaRed

By and large, I think they will keep telling their rank and file that we are liars and that we are persecuting the Watchtower, as prophesied in the Bible. I doubt there will be any legal actions taken, unless we put up copyrighted material on a web site and they can track down who owns it. Then, only maybe.

In reality, there is absolutely nothing they can do for our speaking out. Like them, we also have freedom of speech and the ability to exercise it.

As for banning the internet, they didn't really ban chess either, but did strongly discourage it. Even had elders tell others they were not permitted to play it. I heard the same thing about the internet before leaving. Strongly discouraged translates out to banned, but not legally, I guess.

If God's Spirit is filling a Kingdom Hall, how is it that Satan can manuever the ones within that Kingdom Hall at the same time?

sunscapes

"strongly discouraged" translates out to a social scorched-earth policy directed toward the "offender" for a perceived "spiritual babe" discouraged activity.

greven

banning chess? i never heard of that it was my prime defense when i was playing some kind of war type computer game!
they can not ban internet because they are using it too. they do highlight though the bad sides (like kiddie porn and stuff)of it alot.
even so much that most in my con are reasoning along the line : internet is sure not going to be in my house!
I think that the internet prevents alot of people who are potentially interested in the org from joining it. the first thing most people do when confonted with something they do not know or trust is look it up at the net. freedom of speech existed long before but the society was getting around that by preventing people to talk to former members.
but NOW when freedom of speech is combined with easy access to incriminating information...they are in deep shit. and the best thing about it : they can`t do a thing!!

"Fear is strange soil. Mainly it grows obedience like corn, which grows in rows and makes weeding easy. But sometimes it grows the potatoes of defiance, which flourish underground."
-from "Small Gods" by Terry Pratchett-

Scully

Dakota Red:

By and large, I think they will keep telling their rank and file that we are liars and that we are persecuting the Watchtower, as prophesied in the Bible. I doubt there will be any legal actions taken, unless we put up copyrighted material on a web site and they can track down who owns it. Then, only maybe.

I think they tried that with Kent's website and failed miserably.

Their only recourse, I believe, is to continue to vilify and demonize "apostates" to the rank and file; to make us out to be the biggest baddest bogeyman possible in order to scare JWs to death about ever coming in contact with one of "us".

When I was a kid, there were RARELY any WT articles about apostasy or the dangers of becoming "apostate" through "independent thinking". Those articles all started in the late 70s and early 80s and I think they've become more frequent, and more alarming to JWs.

It would be interesting to do a search on a WT CD-ROM and check the statistics on the frequency of the warnings over a timeline.

The "apostate" label along with the threat of DFing and shunning for anyone who leaves or disagrees with the WTS is their trump card. It keeps people from voicing their opinions, or even thinking about the glaring inconsistencies, the hypocrisy, the blatant lies that have been told to keep the WTS afloat.

The WTS is still a sinking ship, and the people who realize that know the best chance they have is to jump ship.

Love, Scully
UADNA-C (Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America-Canada)

Will Power

"By and large, I think they will keep telling their rank and file that we are liars and that we are persecuting the Watchtower, as prophesied in the Bible. "

This I think is what they are doing and they might have to try a bit harder because the Catholic Church seems to be fitting their so called prophecy and getting all the recognition!
They better not wait too long, looks like God might have decided to clean up the Catholic Church instead!!!!

Sargon

I think you're right Will, our presence just increases their persecution complex, see we must be the truth everyone's against us.
I got no idea though what you mean about the catholic church.

Imagination is more important than Knowledge. Albert Einstein

D wiltshire

The JW's claim they fought for everyone freedom of speack in the courts. They print very negative stuff aboout religion, so I don't think they would be foolish enough to take any one to court over these issues.
If they did they would be wielding a double egded sword that will cut them too.

Join the Watchtower or you will die.
Only Jehovah's Witnesses have the TRUTH all other religions EVIL and from the Devil.
You must beleive the Watchtower or you're going to die a painful death forever, isn't that really GOOD NEWS?

How Far Will They Go?

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